Legendary Baseball Manager Lee Elia, Famous for Fiery Rant, Passes Away at 87—The Untold Story Emerges
The baseball world just lost one of its characters—Lee Elia, former skipper of the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies, passed away at the age of 87, as confirmed by the Phillies on Wednesday. Now, Elia might not have been the flashiest manager in terms of wins and playoff runs—his record sat at 238-300 across stints with the Cubs (1982-83) and the Phillies (1987-88)—but his impact ran deeper than the numbers. He was that third-base coach for the Phillies during their triumphant 1980 World Series campaign, a quiet presence behind a powerhouse team. Philly-born and bred, Elia’s playing days wove through Triple-A and sprinkled with flashes in the majors, debuting with the White Sox in ’66 before moving back to the Cubs in ’68, tallying 95 MLB games. Yet, anyone who followed baseball knew Elia more for his fiery personality than his stats—especially that infamous profanity-laced tirade at Wrigley in ’83, where frustration met the fans head-on in a storm of expletives. Beyond the headlines and heated moments, those close to him remember a genuinely kind soul—players like Dan Wilson recall him as a mentor and father figure, a man who shaped careers and lives alike. He leaves behind his wife, Priscilla, and two daughters, a family rooted in his legacy. Baseball feels a little emptier without Lee Elia’s unique spirit. LEARN MORE.
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